Compression tool with retaining means for coaxial cable connection

Abstract

Provided is a coaxial cable connector compression tool comprising a resilient coaxial cable retaining mechanism, having a tool mounting portion, affixed to said compression tool and a compliant cable receiving portion configured to releasably retain a coaxial cable, wherein the cable retaining mechanism, which may be comprised or one or multiple pieces, bears minimal compression forces while positioned on said compression tool to hold said coaxial cable in proper alignment when said compression tool is operated. Moreover, a method is provided for retaining a coaxial cable in proper alignment during compression of a coaxial cable connector onto said coaxial cable.

1. A coaxial cable connector compression tool comprising:
 a connector seat, wherein said connector seat bears compression forces related to the compression of a coaxial cable connector onto a coaxial cable by said compression tool; and 
 a resilient retaining mechanism including a flexible coaxial cable receiving portion, the flexible coaxial cable receiving portion being configured to releasably retain a coaxial cable, wherein said flexible coaxial cable receiving portion of said retaining mechanism includes a cable retaining member being flexible substantially throughout its dimension, so that the entire portion of the cable retaining member is operable to flex and bend outward and allow releasable insertion of the coaxial cable into the flexible coaxial cable receiving portion of the resilient retaining mechanism; and further 
 wherein said retaining mechanism is attached to said compression tool in a manner so as to prevent transfer of substantial compression force to any portion of said resilient retaining mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The coaxial cable connector compression tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible connector receiving portion, the flexible connector receiving portion being configured to releasably retain a coaxial cable connector, wherein said flexible connector receiving portion includes a connector receiving member. 
     
     
       3. The coaxial cable connector compression tool of  claim 1 , wherein said cable retaining member of said flexible coaxial cable receiving portion is positioned and configured to releasably retain said coaxial cable in proper alignment during operation of said coaxial cable connector compression tool. 
     
     
       4. The coaxial cable connector compression tool of  claim 2 , wherein said connector retaining member is operable to flex and bend outward and allow releasable insertion of the connector into the flexible connector receiving portion of the resilient retaining mechanism and releasably retain said connector. 
     
     
       5. A compression tool mounted coaxial cable retaining apparatus comprising:
 a compliant structure, said structure being separate from a compression force-bearing cradle portion of a compression tool, wherein said structure includes:
 a tool mounting portion, affixed to said compression tool; and 
 a flexible coaxial cable receiving portion, the flexible coaxial cable receiving portion being configured to releasably retain a coaxial cable, wherein said flexible coaxial cable receiving portion of said compliant structure includes a cable retaining member being operable throughout its entirety to flex and bend outward and allow releasable insertion of the coaxial cable into the flexible coaxial cable receiving portion of the compliant structure; and, 
 wherein said compliant structure bears minimal compression forces while positioned on said compression tool to hold said coaxial cable in proper alignment when said compression tool is operated to compress a coaxial cable connector onto said cable. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The compression tool mounted coaxial cable retaining apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said compliant structure further comprises a flexible connector receiving portion, the flexible connector receiving portion being configured to releasably retain a coaxial cable connector, wherein said flexible connector receiving portion includes a connector receiving member, the connector retaining member being operable to flex and bend outward and allow releasable insertion of the connector into the flexible connector receiving portion of the compliant structure. 
     
     
       7. The compression tool mounted coaxial cable retaining apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said compliant structure is mounted behind a connector cradle portion of said tool so that a connector seat of said cradle portion incurs substantial force generated when said connector is compressed onto said cable. 
     
     
       8. The compression tool mounted coaxial cable retaining apparatus  claim 5 , wherein the cable receiving portion includes two cable retaining members defined as flexible arms extending from said tool mounting portion. 
     
     
       9. A compression tool comprising:
 a connector seat, wherein said connector seat bears compression forces related to the compression of a coaxial cable connector onto a coaxial cable by said compression tool; and 
 means for retaining said coaxial cable in proper alignment during compression of said coaxial cable connector onto said coaxial cable, wherein said means are entirely flexible and are configured to bear minimal compression forces during tool compression. 
 
     
     
       10. The compression tool of  claim 9 , further comprising means for retaining said coaxial cable connector in proper alignment during compression of said coaxial cable connector onto said coaxial cable, wherein said means are configured to bear minimal compression forces during tool compression.